Siab Bazaar is one of Uzbekistan’s best-known and popular traditional markets. It’s located in the historic center of Samarkand, close to the city’s major landmarks. It’s an ideal place to experience local culture, sample traditional delicacies, and shop for souvenirs.

What to Try and Buy

The star of Siab Bazaar is the famous Samarkand flatbread. It’s baked in traditional clay ovens (tandoors) and decorated with round patterns pressed into the center using a special stamp (chekich). Freshly baked flatbread is a must-try.

The market is also a paradise for food lovers. Its stalls overflow with dried fruits, nuts, sweets, spices, and seasonal fruit and vegetables. Popular treats include dried apricots, raisins, halva, and navat (crystallized sugar). These local specialties make excellent edible souvenirs. Visitors can also browse handicrafts, including ceramics, textiles, and traditional embroidered skullcaps known as tyubeteikas.

Vendors often invite visitors to taste their goods and are happy to share their knowledge of local specialties. Bargaining is another longstanding tradition here. Negotiating the price is a normal part of shopping, so feel free to haggle politely and with a smile. Depending on the product and the seller, you may be able to secure a discount of around 30%.

Practical Information

Siab Bazaar typically operates from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. An extension of opening hours until 11:00 PM was recently announced, but many stalls may close earlier.

The best time to explore the bazaar is in the morning, when the selection of fresh produce is at its best and temperatures are still mild. Late afternoon can also be a good time to shop, as some vendors may offer discounts before closing.

Bring cash, few vendors accept bank cards.

Other tourist attractions near the bazaar:

• Bibi Khanym Mosque
• Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble
• Hazrati Khizr Mosque
• Registan
• Samarkand’s Greatness Park
• Islam Karimov Museum